Shoe Storage for Small Spaces: Tips for a Clutter-Free Condo

Space-limited condos beg for functional (yet fashionable) storage solutions.  If you're looking for a better way to store and organize your shoes, do try this at home!

1. Get your shoes off the floor!  While your square footage may be limited by your condo's layout, every condo unit has wall space that need not be wasted!  Be sure to make use of the vertical space in closets (or any odd nooks and crannies that you may have in your suite) with cleverly placed shelving units

2. Organize by season, style and colour.  Place current seasonal items within easy reach.  Out-of-season items can then be placed on top shelves or harder-to-reach areas to eliminate clutter and chaos.  Further categorizing your shoes by style (e.g. heels, flats, sandals) and colour will help to save time when you're trying to leave in a hurry!

3. Protect your shoes from dust and overcrowding with the use of storage boxes on shelves.  Stackable boxes can help to further save space.  Transparent boxes or ones with windows will allow you to see what's inside.  Boxes that include pull-out drawers will allow you to access your shoes with ease.  There are many on the market nowadays, so be sure to shop around!

Hints & Tips:  Until this Sunday, IKEA's SKUBB Shoe Boxes will be on sale for only $6.99/4-pack (regular $14.99).  These boxes may not stack as well as others we've seen, but they work well on shelves and their large size, transparent window flap and now very affordable price make these an ideal storage solution!

Sale Alert! SKUBB Shoe Boxes from IKEA

These SKUBB shoe storage boxes from IKEA are a great way to organize and protect your shoes from dust and overcrowding.  Their  transparent mesh windows let you see what's inside while simple hook and loop fasteners allow you to open and close the windows with ease, ensuring that your shoes are always within easy reach.  Our favourite part?  The generous size of these boxes (W 8.75" x D 13.5" x H 6.25") fits even larger men's sizes!

Until the end of this week, these sturdy little boxes are only $6.99 for a pack of 4, while supplies last (regular price is $14.99).  They come in black and white to match any decor.  We've already got our limit of 2 per person - hurry and get yours today!

Post-Holiday “Wrap-Up”: Store Your Holiday Decorations Safely

So, your tree has been trimmed and the party’s in full swing. No one wants to think about it, but inevitably, there will soon be some post-holiday cleanup to address!

What can we do with all those beautiful, delicate (and often expensive) Christmas ornaments, ribbons and other trinkets? Here are some simple and cost-effective ideas to consider when putting your decorations away after the holiday decor (sadly) comes down.

A place for everything, and everything in its place

There really is something behind that old adage. If you take the time to store your decorations carefully now, you won’t have any problems finding it all next year. This can save both time and money, and will take the stress out of what should actually be a fun time of year.

Display your favourite things

There’s no reason why you should have to put away your favourite items when the holidays are over. Placing greeting cards, ornaments or ribbons that hold special meaning in simple matted frames or shadow boxes can create artful objects that beautify your home and remind you of something special year-round.

Keep original packaging intact for future storage

Instead of spending more money on specialty storage, the boxes that items such as ornaments and lights come in can be kept to help preserve your decorations for future use. These packages are often already lined with the necessary dividers to help prevent your décor from breaking in transit and storage, and will also keep your goodies organized in neat little packets.

Keep related items together

Storing like items together, such as Christmas tree trimmings, gift wrap and decorative platters, respectively, will help when it comes time to retrieve these items and prepare for next year’s festivities.

Make use of clear, stackable storage bins

Keep loose items and smaller packages safely stored in larger bins. Clear, stackable storage bins come in a wide range of shapes and sizes and are an economical way of building additional storage. They are ideal for tucking away under furniture or stacking in small spaces, and will make it easy to find what you’re looking for, when you need it.

More storage tips

For further tips to help protect your belongings, click here.

50% Off ANTONIUS Storage Units By IKEA!

Need we say more?  This versatile storage unit by IKEA is simply fabulous for spaces both small and large.  

The ANTONIUS storage unit can be used to create a more functional use of space in your wardrobe, laundry room, or an awkward hallway closet, and can even serve as a handy addition to a cluttered office workspace or children's play area.  The option of setting this storage unit on castors makes it mobile and perfect for multi-tasking.

Pick one up for half the regular price at your local IKEA today!  Hurry, this sale ends on March 21st.

New Year, New Wardrobe?

For those of you have resolved to keep your wardrobes tidy and organized this year, we’ve just heard that IKEA is offering some great deals on closet organizers and accessories in their Storage Event!

Some budget-friendly buys include 20% off PAX wardrobes and KOMPLEMENT interiors. These incredibly flexible wardrobe systems come in all kinds of shapes and sizes so that you can tailor your storage space to suit your individual style.

The Storage Event is on at IKEA until February 14, but remember: if you make an eligible purchase before February 1, you can still qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit!

Hints & Tips For Condo Living: Protect Your Belongings

For space-limited condo dwellers, storage lockers offered in the building can be of enormous value. It isn’t uncommon for such spaces to be located in underground garage areas, so it’s not a bad idea to keep in mind that occasional leaks can happen. To protect your belongings, consider the following options:

• Place smaller, compact items into stackable plastic bins to optimize a small space while keeping things tidy and protected not only from water, but also dust and dirt. Clear bins will allow you to see what’s inside each box with ease, such as the SAMLA storage line offered by IKEA.

• Items that are used more frequently can be placed on raised, open shelving units for ease of access. The BRODER shelving system by IKEA is a sturdy, freestanding option for awkward spaces where drilling may not be possible. The product is available in different sizes and configurations, but we generally find that the smallest units, such as the 1-section L-foot,  work best for condo lockers which are typically on the narrow side.  The GORM shelving system is also a customizable, budget-friendly alternative.

• Bulkier items can be placed on small wooden pallets or skids, similar to those used by retail stores and warehouses, which will keep them off the ground in case of leaks.

Special thanks to one of our readers for sharing their experience with us and inspiring this post!

Hints & Tips For Condo Living: Shoe Storage

38 pairs and counting...

Are your shoes invading what is already a limited space?  Not sure what to do with all those shoes scattered all over the floor?

A practical option is to use a bookcase to customize your own shoe-shelving unit.  We like the BILLY Bookcase from IKEA - it's not only style-savvy but also budget-conscious!  And with its many different designs, it provides a world of options for custom shelving.

 Benefits:

• Available in a wide variety of heights, widths, and colours, the BILLY Bookcase fits into many different spaces with ease, and matches almost any decor;
• Different styles can be mixed and matched to customize your ideal storage space;
• An economical option for custom closet shelving, starting at only $29.99 (CAD);
• Quick and easy to assemble;  
• Additional shelves can be purchased separately so that your storage unit can be tailored to fit as many types and pairs of shoes needed.
• Placement suggestions for small spaces;
• The 41-inch bookcase can fit into the coat closet by the entrance of your home, still leaving enough room to hang your jackets above.
• The bookcase is shallow enough to fit into the gap behind a bedroom door.

Considerations:

• The shelves may not be deep enough for larger sizes (but remember, shoes can be lined up from back-to-front or side-to-side).
• Adding a liner or shelf-protector sheet can help to reduce wear-and-tear from dirt and water.
• You may be able to find the bookcase online at a discount (e.g. Kijiji or Craigslist).